Monday, 6 August 2012

Interview and Giveaway with Jessica Scott

Jessica Scott﻿

You might've seen her name around, or maybe one of her beautiful covers. Today we are very excited to have here Jessica Scott and that we had the chance to ask her a few questions. If you haven't read her series yet, then you are missing out! But don't worry, you have time to catch up on book one, BECAUSE OF YOU, before book two, UNTIL THERE WAS YOU, comes out in October!﻿ Please help us welcome Jessica Scott to UTC!

Thanks so much for having me!

Who is Jessica Scott? Tell us five interesting things about yourself that readers would not know!

I'm really not that interesting, honestly but here goes:
I can paint my own french manicure on my nails. I have a terrible lip gloss addiction. I'm an INJF according to Meyers Briggs. I have a small addiction to Cookies & Cream Ice cream and I love fried onions. I know, really interesting stuff, right?

What made you decide to be an author?

Honestly, I thought I had a story to tell. I was lucky enough to find one editor who agreed, lol. Can you tell us about your first book, BECAUSE OF YOU? Why should readers check this book out?

Because of You is a book for anyone who likes an emotional story. It's a story about strength and survival and overcoming scars, both physical and mental. Sergeant First Class Shane Garrison must learn how to be a man first, a soldier second and Jen St James must learn how to be a woman first, a nurse second. UNTIL THERE WAS YOU is your next release. What was the most challenging thing about this book and how did you overcome it?

I love Evan & Claire. They're characters that I first wrote back while I was still in Iraq and I love love love their interaction. The toughest part of this book - and there were plenty of tough parts - was getting them to be characters people could relate to. It was also really hard to get the world building done right because both characters were in the military and that made it tough to explain things so that readers who were not associated with the military could understand it. But despite this book being so so tough, I'm really happy with how it came out. Evan & Claire are a great couple and it takes all of Evan's strength to break through Claire's barriers. Why did you decide to pen contemporary romance books as opposed to books of another genre?

I've always read romance and while I tend to read a lot more suspense or paranormal, I felt like contemporary stories were where my characters would naturally fit. I wanted to write about life in the military for ordinary soldiers: what better way to do that than in contemporary romance. You write military romances but you're in the military yourself. How do you think that affects your writing?

It makes things feel more real in my writing but it also makes it difficult to translate. When I say we're conducting PT or living on the FOB, I have to remember that people don't automatically know that PT is physical training or FOB is forward operating base. So I have to work extra hard at making sure things that are automatic to me are clear to the reader, too. Do you make your husband (who is also in the military) or the people you work with read your books?

HAHAHA. No, I don't make anyone read my books, let alone my husband. His dramatic interpretation of my books is hysterical, though. Have you written any scenes or plots based on personal experience or something you've seen? Where do you draw the line at putting something real into fiction?

If there is something that someone would look at and think, that was me, I won't put it in. Also, there are something that are deeply personal and I would not ever violate the trust of a friend by putting it into a book. How did you celebrate when your first book was published? ;)

I was at RWA 2011 in New York City when the sale was announced. I was so freaking excited, I don't remember the conference hardly at all! Congratulations on your Holt Madallion win! What was your first thought when you heard the good news?

I was at the pet store looking for fish when I got the call that I was a Holt Medallion Award of Merit winner. It was very, very cool and I'm honored to be in such great company!

About the Author:Jessica Scott is a career army officer, mother of two daughters, three cats and three dogs, wife to a career NCO and wrangler of all things stuffed and fluffy. She is a terrible cook and even worse housekeeper, but she's a pretty good shot with her assigned weapon and someone liked some of the stuff she wrote. Somehow, her children are pretty well adjusted and her husband still loves her, despite burned water and a messy house.

The Soldier

I'm a career soldier, with 16 years in the Army and I love everything about Army life. I joined right out of high school and was promptly shipped off to Germany where I met my husband. I went from Sergeant First Class (E7) to Second Lieutenant (01E) in 2007.Now, I'm a company commander in charge of 130 soldiers, a mom with two young kids who never sit still, and an Army wife, whose husband is back in Iraq.Join me at my blog, Twitter, and Facebook because the Army adventure never stops!

The Author

Until a few years ago, I had no idea hard writing really was. I'd always written and started several projects over the years, burning out after a few dozen pages. After the War was the first novel I ever finished and it will always hold a special place in my heart because of that, even if it now remains under my bed. Blogging from Iraq landed me a spot on PBS Point of View, tackling tough issues involving women and war. Its an experience I'll never forget.After the War was followed by multiple novels, all pulled from my experiences as an soldier who has lived through both being deployed and being the spouse left at home with the kids. Most of those books will never see daylight.

Thank you so much for stopping by today Jessica!

Thanks so much for having me today! I'd love to give one commenter a copy of BECAUSE OF YOU and stay tuned to my website as there will be more information coming soon about UNTIL THERE WAS YOU!

From the war-torn streets of Baghdad to the bittersweet comforts of the home front, two wounded hearts navigate the battlefield of coming home from war in this explosive eBook original from newcomer Jessica Scott.

Keeping his men alive is all that matters to Sergeant First Class Shane Garrison. But meeting Jen St. James the night before his latest deployment makes Shane wonder if there’s more to life than war. He leaves for Iraq remembering a single kiss with a woman he’ll never see again—until a near fatal attack lands him back at home and in her care.

Jen has survived her own brush with death and endured its scars. And yet there’s a fire in Shane that makes Jen forget all about her past. He may be her patient, but when this warrior looks her in the eyes, she feels—for the first time in a long time—like a woman. Shane is too proud to ask for help, but for Jen, caring for him is more than a duty—it’s a need. And as Jen guides Shane through the fires of healing, she finds something she never expected—her deepest desire.

I've read this book already and cannot wait until October for the next one. My husband is a disabled veteran and Jessica's book was moving and every emotional for me. I think Jessica has a bright future as an author.

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